Preserved wood and method of making same.



,- prns'rn rs a r ore ROBERT A. MAB/R, OF ORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOB TO AMERICAN WOOD ENCYSTING (10., INCORPORATED, OF .NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

PRESERVED ,WOOD AND METHOD OF -MAKING SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

No Drawing. Application filed February 8, 1913, Seria1 No.'747,'169. Renewed October-22, 1914. Serial No.868,122. I

' 16, 1912, I have described a process which consists essentially inthat the wood to be treated is first soaked in a volatile hydrocarbon, such as 'gasolene, after which it is immersed in a bath maintained at a temperaturbelow 212 F., said bath containing melted parafiin, and diatomaceous earth, which mixture enters the pores, ducts and cells of the timber. and thoroughly permeates and encysts these. In my other Patent No, 1,023,78&, dated April 16, 1912, I

have'described a process in which timber is immersed in a bath containing molten parafiin and naphthalene, said bath being maintained at a temperature below 212 F.-, andthe materials enter and encyst the pores, ducts and sap channels of the wood.' The process of the present application combines certain features of both these processes, and

is carried out preferably in the following manner. ood is immersed in a bath contaming a mixture of parafiin and naphthalene and diatomaceous .earth,'to which other preservatives may or may not be added asdesired, while saigd bath is at a temperature somewhat above the boiling point of water, a temperature of near 240 F. being preferred. The temperature should not becarried very much above this point, since at higher temperatures the strength of the wood may be impaired.

The air and moisture in the ducts of the wood are driven'out by the action of the naphthalene in the bath, and the melted mixture, carrying the'diatomaceous earth, rapidly enters and takes its place, and thoroughily encysts the pores and ducts of the woo 4 The bath is preferably composed of the materials in the following proportions (by weight) although the invention is not limited thereto, parafiin, 100 parts, naphthalene,

parts, to which may be added 110 to'25 parts, diatomaceous earth 2 to 5 Paris green of commerce, 1 part.

In carrying out this process any variety of wood may be thoroughly permeated by sure process, using hot creosote, except very superficially, and moreover several kinds of wood maybe treated simultaneously in the same bath, and the wood may be in either a horizontal or vertical or inclined position.

lVhen it is desired to treat a part only of the length of a stick, for example a pile, it

may be stood up on end, in a tank containing the encysting mixture, which latter will thoroughly permeate the wood of the length actually immersed, and. some distance-beyond, being carried up some distance, within the wood, above the surface of the bath. Bent samples of the various hard and. soft woods, both green and dry, have been treated, with only a part of the bent portion im mersed; the encysting mixture thoroughly impregnates the wood where immersed and is carried up considerable distance toward eachend.

It is to be noted that either green or seasoned wood may be treated, and the impregnation, when using greenwood is not only as complete as when using dry wood, but it takes place in a shorter time, and both green and dry wood may be treated together, in the same bath.

substantially completely removed, sincecreosote, even hotand under heavy pressure can 'not pass through this inner bark or skin, as has been repeatedly demonstrated in the use of the various vacuum and pressure processes.

The use of above the boiling point of water, in place of a temperature-56f somewhat somewhat below, as in my processes in the patents above referred to, makes-the action take place 11 very much less time, and consequently saves time and money in the opadditions of the materials to the bath, from It is easy to' see when the impregnation and encystingtime to time, as necessary.

is complete, as no more bubbles are given off from the surface of the wood. If itis desired to s'upersaturate. the" treated material and leave the main ducts and pores completely filled av drop in temperature is preferable, or the timber may be immersed inanother similar hath at a lower tempera- 'ture. r The apparatus preferably used, in carrying out my process is-an open tank with heatingmeans, such as steam coils therein, and it isunnecessary to employ vacuum or pressure in-carrying out the process, which also effects a great saving in the process. The diatomaceous earth-is'Ta'n extremely finely divided material, of which over 90% will pass through the meshes of asieve, or bolting cloth having 40,000 meshes per.

square inch, and this is carried by the melted para-flin into the interior of the wood. The function of this, .as inmy prior patent,- is to leave a hardsolid material in the interstices of the wood Whichwill prevent the action of teredo, limnoria, etc.,jwhose man:

dibles are, composed essentially of. carbonate of lime (av material much softer than the silica of which the diatoms are composed).

. And the magma adds strength and resili- The paraflin acts to prevent the entrance of moisture, fungi, spores, and acts as a pre ence to treated Woods.-

The Paris green while a fine powder, is much coarser than the diatomaceous earth, and consequently does 'not enter the Wood to any great extent, but remains as a coating on the surface of the wood, and may impregnate the surface portions 'of the wood.

a This will effectually prevent the action of wood-destroying insects, also most forms of wood destroying fungi, since, as well known,

it is a poison to both insect life and fungi.

servative to the timber, since wood can not decay in the absence. of water.

. The action ofthe naphthalene is something. more than a preservative, as it acts to carry the paraflin and other material into the pores of the wood. This may be due tions stated above. of such a. bath-being also as stated above.

to the fact that the naphthalene is somewhat volatile, and in starting to' vaporizeit; drives out the moisture, or. air in the Wood,

and then the paraflin enters. Moreover the naphthalene cleans out the tissue ducts of the timber, to make it possible for the mixture.

to enter.- The wood when treated according l to this process is also stronger and heavier than before treatment, which is also a valuable feature of the process.

Wood, when encysted according to my present process, will effectually resist. any form of wood destroying fungus, insect, Worm, or any form of decay.

It is obvious that in place of naphthalene, I can employ other aromatic hydrocarbons of this type, which are somewhat volatile,-

such as'homologues of naphthalene, maybe employed; Also in place of parafiin, other:

non-volatile materials, which are insoluble in water, and which are capable of being melted, and which whenso melted will form thin'liquids of' a mobile nature, at the-temperatures mentionedfherein. Various equivalents for the diatomaceous earth, and for the Paris green may also be used.

For certain purposes, I find that a bath .consisting of parafiin, naphthalene and Paris green may be' employed, these materials preferably being used in about the propor- The conditions of use This-modification isclaimed in my copending application, Serial No. 811,914, filed January 13, 1914. The strength and resiliency of the wood, are in all cases increased, the reason probably being that the silica forms-with the paraflin, a magma,

which upon cooling solidifies within the ducts of the Wood to produce a supporting cylinder therein.

The impregnation of certain light varieties of wood, with mixtures similar to that used herein, is specifically claimed in my copending applications, Serial Nos. 811,909 and 811,910, filed January 13, 1914.

1. A process of preserving wood, which comprises immersing said wood in a bath containing a non-volatile, water-insoluble material having a melting point. not over 212 F.; a somewhat volatile hydrocarbon of the aromatic series; anda solid material in. a sufiiciently finely divided condition to be carried into. the pores and ducts of the Wood, said solid materialjbeing suificiently hard to prevent. the boring action ofthe teredo and similar destructive agents.

2. A. process of preserving wood, which comprises immersingsaid'wood in a bath containing paraflin; a somewhat volatile hydrocarbon of the aromatic series; and a condition to be carried intothepores and ducts of the wood, said solid material being solid material in a sufiiciently finely divided i,121,eae

sufliciently hard to prevent the boring action of the teredo and similar destructive agents. 1

, 3. A process of, preserving wood, which comprises immersing said wood in a bath containing a nonvolatile, water-insoluble material having a melting point not over 212 F.; naphthalene; and a solid material in a sufficiently finely divided condition to be carried into the pores and ducts of the wood, said solid material being sufficiently hard to prevent the boring action of the teredo and similar destructive agents.

- 4. Aprocess of preserving wood, which comprises immersing said wood in a bath containing a non-volatile, water-insoluble material having a melting point not over 212 F.; a somewhat volatile hydrocarbon of the aromatic series; and diatomaceous earth. -5. A process of preserving wood, which comprises immersing said wood ina bath containing a non-volatile, water-insoluble material having a melting point not over 212 F.; a somewhat volatile hydrocarbon of the aromatic series; anda solid material in a sufliciently finely divided condition to t be carried into the pores and ducts of the wood, said solid material being sufficiently hard to prevent the boring action of the teredo and similar destructive agents, and a solid insecticidal body.

- 6. A process of preserving wood, which comprises immersing said wood in a bath containing a non-volatile, water-insoluble material having-a melting-point'not over 212 F.; a somewhat volatile hydrocarbon of the aromatic series; and a solid material in a sufficiently finely divided condition to be carried into the pores and ducts of the wood, said solid material being sufficiently hard to prevent the boring action of the teredo and similar destructive agents; and Paris gree 7. .A process of preserving wood, which comprL'es immersing said wood in a bath containing parafiin', naphthalene and diatomaceous earth.

- 8. A process of preserving wood, which. comprises immersing said wood 1n a bath a. somewhat volatile hydrocarbon comprises immersing said wood in a bath containing a non-volatile, water-insolublev material having a meltmg point not over 212 F.; a somewhat volatile hydrocarbon of the aromatic series; and a solid-material in a sufliciently finely divided condition to be carriedinto the pores and ducts of the wood, said solid material being sufliciently' hard to prevent the boring action of the teredo and similar destructive agents','said bath being maintained at a temperature between about 212" 1 and about 2-10 F.

11,- A process of preserving wood, which comprises immersing said wood in a bath containing paraflin, naphthalene and dia tomaceous earth; said bath being maintained at a temperature somewhat above the boiling point of water. 1 1

12. A process of preserving wood', wh1ch comprises immers ng sald wood 1n a bath containing paraiiln, naphthalene, maceous earth and Paris green; said bath being maintainedat' a temperature some-' what above the boiling point of water.

18. A product consisting of wood, the

pores, ducts andcells of which are encysted with a mixture comprising a non-volatile,

water-insoluble, material having a melting.

point not over 212 E; a somewhat volatile hydrocarbon of the aromatic series; and a solid material.in a sufiiciently finelydivide'd condition to be carried into the pores .and ducts of the wood, said solid material being sufliciently hard to prevent the boring aotion of the teredo and similar destructive agents' 14. A product consisting of wood, the

pores, ducts and cells of which are encysted with a mixture comprising naphthalene, paraffin and diatomaceous earth.

15. A product consisting of wood, the pores,'ducts and. cells of which are encysted with a mixture comprising a non-volatile,

water-insoluble material having a melting point not over 212 F.; a somewhat volatile hydrocarbon-of the aromatic series; and a solid material in a suliiciently finely divided condition tobe carried into the pores and diatoductsof the wood, said solid material beingsuiiiciently hard to prevent the boring acf tion of theteredo and similar destructive agents, said wood having a coating comprising an insecticidal compound.

16. A product consisting of wood, the

pores, ducts and cellsof which are encysted with a mixture comprising naphthalene, parafiin, and finely divided silica.

17. A product consisting of wood, the pores, ducts and cells of which are encysted with a mixture comprising. naphthalene, paraiiin and diatomaceous earth; said wood having acoating comprising an insoluble insecticidal body. I i 18. A product consisting of wood, the pores, ducts and cells of which are encysted ticidal body.

comprises immersing said Wood in a bath 19. A process of preserring W00d, Whioh containing a non-volatile, waterrinsoluble material having a melting point not over 1 212 F; a somewhat volatile hydrocarbon of the aromatic series; a silicious material; and an insoluble insecticidal body.

20. A process of preserving wood, WhIGh ia-wee comprises immersing said Wood in a bath containing parafin, naphthalene, a silicious material and. Paris green ;.said bath being 15 maintained at a temperature somewhat above the boiling point of Water: Signed at Norfolk Va, this 7th day of February 1913.

. ROBERT A. MARR. Witnesses:

MAURICE H. DiMMELsoN, C. G. BRoWNE,

J. W. EGGLESTON. 

